Politics and the Church

[bankerdavid]

What do you do about a priest who, when teaching Bible classes and Adult Catechism, expresses opinions of the current political scene? No, not about abortion and how it’s wrong, but how he could never trust George W Bush or any Republican (as a blanket statement). I listen carefully to EWTN radio, and have never seen or heard a Catholic endorsement for or against a candidate. Catholics that I know usually vote on issues, and how the candidate supports and defends (or doesn’t) issues important to their faith.

My wife (since I have to work) has an appointment with our priest to discuss just this today, and I wanted to give her some advice. I appreciate this priest, but disagree politically with him. Yet he’s very sound on Church doctrine, in catechism class he makes the same points as Fr. John Corapi, it’s just this political thing we have a problem with. Even his homilies sometimes rant against the President (who I voted for, but am no great fan of…).

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I think Father has an opinion, just like a lot of other people. If you think he’s open to discussion, you might ask him if he can back up what he says with why.

 

[jennyr]

it seems inappropriate to discuss politics during a homily, but then again he is obviously a lot smarter than me!!

 

[bankerdavid]

An appointment with Father possibly corrected the problem. Father admitted to going overboard with his criticism of the current administration and promised to stick to issues.

My regard for our priest, who’s an extremely hard working man (he’s the only parish priest, does daily mass 6 days a week as well as Vigil Mass on Saturday and 3 masses on Sunday, prinicipal of the school, catechism, bible study, and on and on!) went up several notches. We’ll see how he does!

 

[bankerdavid]

I think Father has an opinion, just like a lot of other people. If you think he’s open to discussion, you might ask him if he can back up what he says with why.

It’s his opinion of the current state of affairs in Iraq, and he doesn’t think the administration does enough to help the needy. He’s a lifelong Democrat, who criticizes the Republican party for falling away from their original charter, but fails to see how the Democrats have done the same thing. My wife asked him to just see both sides, rather than resorting to character assassination, which is sort of what he did. We counselled him that it’s never wise to have much faith in politicians. For example, we both voted for GWB twice, but I fail to see how he’s done much more than keep another 9/11 from happening (a monumental task, to be sure!). I totally don’t like what he’s done very much domestically, but he was a better choice to me.

There’s only one way one should look at a politician-that’s down.

 

[estesbob]

It’s his opinion of the current state of affairs in Iraq, and he doesn’t think the administration does enough to help the needy. He’s a lifelong Democrat, who criticizes the Republican party for falling away from their original charter, but fails to see how the Democrats have done the same thing. My wife asked him to just see both sides, rather than resorting to character assassination, which is sort of what he did. We counselled him that it’s never wise to have much faith in politicians. For example, we both voted for GWB twice, but I fail to see how he’s done much more than keep another 9/11 from happening (a monumental task, to be sure!). I totally don’t like what he’s done very much domestically, but he was a better choice to me.

There’s only one way one should look at a politician-that’s down.

How does a Catholic Priest justify voting for a pro-abortion canidate regardless of what Party they belong to???

 

[Della]

It’s his opinion of the current state of affairs in Iraq, and he doesn’t think the administration does enough to help the needy. He’s a lifelong Democrat, who criticizes the Republican party for falling away from their original charter, but fails to see how the Democrats have done the same thing. My wife asked him to just see both sides, rather than resorting to character assassination, which is sort of what he did. We counselled him that it’s never wise to have much faith in politicians. For example, we both voted for GWB twice, but I fail to see how he’s done much more than keep another 9/11 from happening (a monumental task, to be sure!). I totally don’t like what he’s done very much domestically, but he was a better choice to me.

There’s only one way one should look at a politician-that’s down.

I’m afraid many Catholics buy into the idea that the only way to help the needy is to throw money at them–it isn’t. It is the function of churches and other service organizations to help the needy in this way. The job of government is to safeguard the rights of citizens, not give entitlements to this or that group of people.

We have poured billions of dollars into welfare programs and the only thing we have created is generational poverty in which people never learn to work or care for their families. Raising taxes for more programs and more entitlements will not solve this problem. People need incentives to get an education, get work, and remain in stable families, which means a husband and wife, and children.

As for looking down on politicians, I don’t agree. I believe in rewarding those who are trying to bring about real change that will actually better people’s lives rather than cater to the worst in us in order to keep a power base of those dependent on entitlements.

 

[CathCentrist]

You have to ask yourself - if he was in favor of Bush and the GOP would you not have a problem with him? If you wouldnt, then you have to accept him voicing his opinion.

 

[Lucania]

we both voted for GWB twice, but I fail to see how he’s done much more than keep another 9/11 from happening (a monumental task, to be sure!). I totally don’t like what he’s done very much domestically, but he was a better choice to me.

There’s only one way one should look at a politician-that’s down.

I must agree with Estesbob’s statement & wonder the same in regard to your Priest. Would you elaborate on your above statement? I think a booming ecomony, with maybe the exception of Michigan, low unemployment rates, tax cuts, two conservative Supreme Court Justices, and yes, the monumental task of keeping us from another 9/11 is fine in my book. By the way, if it were up to the Dems, the NSA wire-tapping would not be allowed. We were able to thwart the probable bombing of the Brooklyn Bridge & either the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel in N.Y. and who knows what else. Illegal
Immigration is a problem, though.

 

[bankerdavid]

You have to ask yourself - if he was in favor of Bush and the GOP would you not have a problem with him? If you wouldnt, then you have to accept him voicing his opinion.

Given the setting, yes. I go to Mass to celebrate the Eucharist and hear the word of God, and how it applies to us today. I go to Catechism and Bible study to learn about our beliefs and the word of God. And it’s ok for him to discuss issues, even if I disagree with his stance on those issues. But politics does not belong alongside the liturgy of the Word, at least not in my opinion. Father did agree, too…[SIGN]I do admire the man![/SIGN]

 

[djrakowski]

I think a booming ecomony, with maybe the exception of Michigan

Considering that Gov. Granholm is a pro-choice so-called Catholic, and that the economic recovery hasn’t reached Michigan yet, how could anyone in my state consider voting for anyone but DeVos?

Sorry for the hi-jack… now, back to your regularly-scheduled program

 

[bankerdavid]

I’m afraid many Catholics buy into the idea that the only way to help the needy is to throw money at them–it isn’t. It is the function of churches and other service organizations to help the needy in this way. The job of government is to safeguard the rights of citizens, not give entitlements to this or that group of people.

We have poured billions of dollars into welfare programs and the only thing we have created is generational poverty in which people never learn to work or care for their families. Raising taxes for more programs and more entitlements will not solve this problem. People need incentives to get an education, get work, and remain in stable families, which means a husband and wife, and children.

As for looking down on politicians, I don’t agree. I believe in rewarding those who are trying to bring about real change that will actually better people’s lives rather than cater to the worst in us in order to keep a power base of those dependent on entitlements.

Amen to your first two paragraphs, but my last stance deals with the current state of politics in this country. There are a few-very few-politicians who are trying to bring real change, but the numbers don’t look good. If I think a candidate will do such a thing, I will vote for him, but I never get my hopes up too high, cuz there’s just too many Nancy Pelosi’s and Harry Reids, and 1 Mark Foley is too many, too…I grew up knowing Former Speaker of the House Bob Livingston, admired the man-he was such an upright guy-after his fall, he told of how really dirty/sleazy it is in Washington-almost worse than Hollywood-not just sexually, but morally sleazy. I think that even if you’re gung-ho, morally upright, etc. once you get to Washington, you’re tainted. How to clean it up? I don’t know, wouldn’t know where to start. But boy, does that area (the WhiteHouse over to the Congress) need fumigation!

 

[bankerdavid]

I must agree with Estesbob’s statement & wonder the same in regard to your Priest. Would you elaborate on your above statement? I think a booming ecomony, with maybe the exception of Michigan, low unemployment rates, tax cuts, two conservative Supreme Court Justices, and yes, the monumental task of keeping us from another 9/11 is fine in my book. By the way, if it were up to the Dems, the NSA wire-tapping would not be allowed. We were able to thwart the probable bombing of the Brooklyn Bridge & either the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel in N.Y. and who knows what else. Illegal
Immigration is a problem, though.

I don’t believe the president has any effect on economy, per se. The pendulum swings both ways. He may give a positive outlook which may keep it on the upswing a bit longer than usual, but the president is not responsible for the economy. The major effect on the economy, IMHO, is what Congress does to promote business. Lowering taxes is the major way to do that. Give Bush credit for the Supremes, that’s true. One of the things I’d have liked to have seen was a start on Social Security reform. And a tougher stance on illegals entering our country. I also thought he could do better on government spending.
True enough about what we’d have gotten from Kerry or Gore.
All in all, I’d give Bush a C+ domestically and an A on the protection/terror front, it’d have been higher had he had to fight a Democrat controlled congress.

 

[Lucania]

I don’t believe the president has any effect on economy, per se.

That may be true, but if the economy were really bad, the President get’s the credit. This President always get the credit for anything negative that’s going on. You can always count on the news media to let us know

 

[kage_ar]

While I am no expert, can a Priest not put the tax status of the Parish in jeopardy if they are endorsing canidates or political parties from the pulpit? This may be grey, if the Pastor does this in a pastorial teaching setting - but, maybe have someone familiar with the law check on it… doing more than teaching on moral and soical issues might be shaky ground when the IRS looks at it.

 

[LSK]

An appointment with Father possibly corrected the problem. Father admitted to going overboard with his criticism of the current administration and promised to stick to issues.

My regard for our priest, who’s an extremely hard working man (he’s the only parish priest, does daily mass 6 days a week as well as Vigil Mass on Saturday and 3 masses on Sunday, prinicipal of the school, catechism, bible study, and on and on!) went up several notches. We’ll see how he does!

I have to tell you something, bankerdavid…I am really please with this post and your sharing of this particular experience. Not only does it sound as though you and your wife are good Catholics who support and love your pastor but your priest sounds like a good man who can admit mistakes when he may make them.

You make me proud to be a Catholic…uh oh…I’m off to confession - there’s that sin of pride again.